If I Win
Based on The Mercer Sister's Your Most Prized Possession?
Chapter Two: Hikaru's Confession
Pachi!
Pachi!
Pachi!
The tapping of Go stones in quick succession. Yes, the game has been going on for some time. Hikaru thought he had a lead a while back ago, but Akira pulled off some pretty good moves, and now, Hikaru was…well…getting his butt kicked.
After several more moves, they had finished yose, and started to arrange their pieces. Hikaru had lost by a moku and a half. But that was the least of his worries. The big concern was how he was going to explain to Akari about his loss, and how she comes into all of this. 'I am so dead' Hikaru thought panicking.
"Thank you for the game", Akira said calmly. 'Sure, it's easy for you to say that since you're not the one who's getting slaughtered…' Hikaru thought bitterly.
"…uh…Shindo…" Akira said. Again, he was greeted with silence.
"Shindo!" Akira said, raising his voice slightly louder than normal, being a polite boy that he is, he doesn't yell.
"Huh? What?" Hikaru said, blinking.
"I guess you should tell Fujisaki-san about her date with me…" Akira said, trailing off.
"Oh yeah…I guess I should do that…See you tomorrow, Touya…" Hikaru said faintly, and walked out of the Go salon as if he was in a trance. 'Akari will understand…right?' he thought while heading out.
Akari was sitting in a bench at a park with a beautiful, blue, serene lake, enjoying the sunlight. She felt tranquil at this place. It was quiet except for the chirps of birds. A warm smile lit her face as a cool breeze went by. Earlier that day, Hikaru had called her asking her where she was, and now he was heading over. She smiled gently, reminiscing about the day he asked her.
Flashback
It was after the graduation ceremony for Haze Junior High. Akari was saying goodbye to all her friends. She alone had been accepted at a very well known high school, while they were going to other not so well known schools. Due to her near-perfect grades, she had also gained a scholarship into going to that school. She felt very lucky and blessed.
Hikaru on the other hand, was never really good with grades, not to mention the fact that he just passed the pro examination for Go players. Hikaru had really changed these years, all their classmates were expecting him to become a soccer player instead of a Go player. Akari noticed him finish talking to Mitani and heading over to her.
"Akari, would you like to step out of here for a sec with me?" he asked softly. Even to now, Akari had trouble acknowledging his soft way of talking now-he used to be so loud and brash…well he still was, but not so much.
"Sure Hikaru" she said, and they headed off.
Once they were out there, there was a silence, for some time. Hikaru was staring at the floor, kicking at an imaginary rock.
"…So, you'll be going to high school eh, Akari?" he said offhandedly.
"Yeah" was her reply. She felt stupid, what kind of answer was 'yeah' anyways?
"Er…so…how has your life been?" he asked cautiously.
"Ok, I guess" there she went again with her stupid answers. It was a wonder to her how she made it into a very prestigious high school.
"Met any guys lately?" he asked.
"A couple…" she said. Then, seeing his crestfallen look, she added, "But I told them I wasn't interested in seeing them."
"Oh…well…I don't suppose you would like to go out with me?" Hikaru asked, pretending it was no big deal, but Akari knew better. Strange though, she had always imagined him asking her out, but now, when faced with the real situation, she was speechless. Hikaru, noticing her silence, turned to go back inside, but she stopped him.
"Wait…I never told you my answer…" she said. He turned around, disbelieving.
"Well you didn't answer either…so I naturally assumed that you would have said no…" he replied.
"You know what, Hikaru? If you keep on assuming things like this, you'll miss out on the finer parts of life, like me." she said. The shock on his face was priceless.
"Ano…so that means you will?" he said, still with that same shocked expression. Akari rolled her eyes.
"How many times do I have to say it before you get it through your thick skull?" she said sarcastically.
"Hey! I don't have a thick skull…and that's not the point. " Hikaru said protesting.
"So what is the point?" Akari asked. Then Hikaru leaned in closer to her face…and stole away her first kiss.
"You, Akari" was his simple reply. She smiled, eyes sparkling.
"Ah…er…Akari" Hikaru said. Akari frowned, that wasn't a part of what happened.
"Akari?" Hikaru's voice rang again. She blinked, snapping out of her reverie. Hikaru was right in front of her, staring at her previously dazed look.
"Oh! Hikaru! Hi! So how did it go with your Go games?" she said, her voice slightly higher.
"Ok…but…" he trailed off.
"But…?" Akari asked.
"Akari, whatever I have to say, promise me you'll hear me out with no interruptions." Hikaru said.
"Why?" Akari asked.
"Just promise me." Hikaru urged.
"Er…ok…I promise…" Akari said slowly. There was a tiny bit of relief in Hikaru's face.
"Ah…well…remember how I sometimes play Go with bets…" Hikaru started. Akari's face blanched a bit. Then Hikaru plunged in for the killer.
"Ano…well…I played a game with Touya…and I lost, and the condition was…that if I lost…you'd have to go on a date with him…" he mumbled quickly. Akari was confused.
"Wait…what happened? Repeat it slowly please." she said. 'Not again…' Hikaru inwardly groaned, and repeated. She seemed to have taken it lightly.
"So you're telling me…that I have to go on a date…with your rival, Touya-kun?" Akari asked disbelievingly. 'This is outrageous!' she thought. Hikaru nodded, waiting for the kill.
"But I'm your girlfriend! How could you even think of doing such a thing?" she asked.
"Er…that's because…I wasn't?" he answered uncertainly.
"Damn right you are! I can't believe you, Hikaru!" Akari shouted. Then, she ran off, tears streaming her face.
"Wait Akari!" Hikaru cried after her running form, but Akari merely ran faster. He ran, trying to catch up with her, but when he turned around the corner, he lost her trail.